Chris Keating has filed a negligence complaint against the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) and Florida Power & Light Company (FPL). The complaint was filed on May 22, 2024, in the Circuit Court of the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit in Palm Beach County, Florida.
According to the complaint, Keating alleges that both FDOT and FPL failed to maintain safe conditions on a sidewalk located at or around 2710 W Atlantic Ave, Delray Beach, FL. On September 22, 2023, while riding his bicycle along this sidewalk, Keating collided with an unmarked steel cable affixed to a streetlamp and anchored into the sidewalk. The collision resulted in significant injuries to Keating's knees, back, elbows, head, shoulders, and ribs.
Keating claims that FDOT had exclusive control over the maintenance and safety of the sidewalk where the incident occurred. He argues that FDOT was negligent in its duty to ensure the safety of pedestrians and cyclists by failing to inspect and repair hazardous conditions such as the steel cable. "At all times material hereto," states the complaint, "Defendant FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION owed a duty of reasonable care to all invitees/guests...to maintain the sidewalks...in a safe manner."
Similarly, Keating accuses FPL of negligence for failing to manage and maintain its powerlines and streetlamps safely. The steel cable involved in the accident was connected to one of FPL's streetlamps. The complaint asserts that FPL should have known about this dangerous condition and taken steps to remedy it or warn passersby.
The plaintiff is seeking damages exceeding $50,000 from each defendant. These damages include compensation for pain and suffering, disability, disfigurement, mental anguish, loss of enjoyment of life, medical expenses (both past and future), rehabilitation costs, lost earnings (past and future), and loss of earning capacity. "As a direct and proximate result of the negligence," reads one section directed at FDOT but mirrored for FPL as well," KEATING suffered serious and grievous personal injuries."
Keating's legal representation is provided by Aronberg & Aronberg Injury Law Firm based in Delray Beach. Attorneys David T. Aronberg and Jesse Young are leading his case. The case is presided over by Judge Joseph Abruzzo under Case Number 502024CA004744XXXAMB Div: Al.